Asahi Kasei has joined the Japan Hydrogen Forum (JH2F), which was established to support the decarbonisation goals of US federal, state, and local governments.
The company will advance activities as a member of the Hydrogen Production Committee, one of the five subcommittees of JH2F.
Activities are performed in five sectoral subcommittees for hydrogen production, land transportation, port decarbonisation, power generation, and finance, and are supported by the Japanese government, and affiliated governmental organisations including: The Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO); New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO); Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC); and Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI).
Asahi Kasei is currently advancing its hydrogen-related business, centred on the alkaline water electrolysis system for hydrogen production, developed utilising its experience gained with the membrane process for chlor-alkali electrolysis.
Asahi Kasei installed a large 10 MW-scale alkaline water electrolysis system at the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R) as part of a NEDO project, and has performed several trial operations since 2020. Based on the technological achievements obtained at FH2R, Asahi Kasei plans to commercialise a larger scale alkaline water electrolysis system, comprising multiple 10 MW modules, through various trial operations in the ongoing NEDO/Green Innovation Fund demonstration project, ‘Green Hydrogen Production by Alkaline Water Electrolysis System’, which was awarded in 2021.
Through the activities in JH2F, Asahi Kasei will contribute to the establishment of a hydrogen society, together with various governmental and non-governmental organisations and corporations related to the hydrogen value chain in the US, by promoting collaboration and making proposals. Asahi Kasei will also build business in the US for large-scale alkaline water electrolysis systems.